Generative AI (or generative artificial intelligence) refers to technology that has been trained to be used to create content, including text, computer and even images.
Although generative AI has been around for decades, the amount and kinds of content it can produce is bringing it to the attention of more and more people. It is likely that you have heard of or even used one of the following Generative AI tools: ChatGPT, Open AI, Bing Chat, DALL-E 2, or Google Bard.
Generative AI processes data that it is given to create content. It can lower overall human labor costs, make processes more efficient, improve creativity, expand innovation, inspire new approaches to thinking, and reduce time on rote tasks to allow for focus on other things. It makes decisions and predictions in its process based on what has learned from the information that it is given. This suggests that thoughtful oversight and scrutiny is needed to avoid the following concerns:
Generative AI also requires money, time, and solid technology.
There are some definite advantages to using Generative AI as a student. Always check with your instructor to make sure you know when using ChatGPT (and similar tools) are approved or ENCOURAGED when completing assignments and projects.
One of the biggest challenges of using AI tools is the high potential for misinformation to pop up in the results. FAST and EASY is appealing, but not at the expense of using incorrect and possible harmfully misleading information.
Make sure you know where the AI tool is sourcing its material by asking the tool to cite its sources - and then check it!
Use media bias and reliability charts to confirm the sources. Use fact-checking tools and/or look around yourself to confirm the information or thinking to ensure that it aligns with the work of other researchers and thinkers in the field.
Take your responsibility to verify the content you submit for assignments seriously.
Bias Charts
Fact Checkers
